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Sustainable Value Roadmap for the Plastics Industry
Summary
This paper examined sustainability challenges for the plastics industry, reviewing life cycle perspectives and proposing a sustainable value roadmap to address microplastic contamination, marine pollution, and plastic landfill accumulation. The roadmap identifies collaborative opportunities for researchers, governments, and industry to transition toward more sustainable plastic production and disposal systems.
The plastics industry has revolutionized several sectors, from packaging to automotive, enabling companies to develop innovative products and enhance their economic competitiveness. However, the exponential growth of this industry has also resulted in a concerning increase in plastic waste, leading to environmental repercussions such as microplastic contamination, marine pollution and plastic landfills. Therefore, researchers, governments, and industrial stakeholders are starting to work collaboratively to address this sustainability issue by adopting a life cycle perspective. Nevertheless, plastic waste generation is not slowing down, and waste management strategies, along with other actions across the value chain, need to be improved. While limiting single-use plastics and promoting sustainable consumer practices is crucial, these measures alone may not be sufficient. Figuring out how to maximize products and materials' lifespan by exploring circular economy opportunities is just as important as minimizing global consumption. This research explores the challenges and opportunities faced by the plastics industry and draws a prototype roadmap to identify sustainable business opportunities and routes of implementation. It builds on previous works on sustainable value roadmapping by defining a vision, identifying drives, highlighting business opportunities and discussing enablers. Results systematize and expand opportunities and challenges identified in scientific literature and industrial reports whilst clearly outlining a vision.
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